Lid forming and closing apparatus



April 30, 1968 LE ROY F. CARKHUFF 3,330,230

LID FORMING AND CLOSING APPARATUS Filed July 8, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet lCARTON UD FORNHNG AND CLOSING STATION //V VISA/701e, ZE/FOVE Cfl/FKHUFFKGBL- :5 m ATTORNEY April 1968 LE ROY F. CARKHUFF 3,

LID FORMING AND CLOSING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 8, 1965"new.

ATTORNEY April 30, 1953 LE ROY F. CARKHUFF 3,330,230

LID FORMING AND CLOSING APPARATUS Filed July 8, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 5INVENTOR [am E CAZK/IUFF BY g m ATTORNEY April 1963 LE ROY F. CARKHUFF3,380,230

LID FORMING AND CLOSING APPARATUS Filed July 8. 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 4'INVENTOR, ZEFw A' CAE/(HUFF BY \qqf m ATTORNEY April 30, 1953 LE ROY F.CARKHUFF 3,380,230

LID FORMING AND CLOSING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 8, 19651.560%; (Ak/(M/Fi Harms ATTORNEY April 30, 1968 LE ROY F. CARKHUFF3,380,230

LID FORMING AND CLOSING APPARATUS Filed July 8, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 6ATTORNEY United States 3,380,230 LID FORMTNG AND CLOSHNG APIARATUS LeRoy F. Carkhult, Morris, lll., assignor to Diamond InternationalCorporation, New York, N.Y., a corporaticri of Delaware Filed July 8,1965, Ser. No. 470,475 13 Claims. (Cl. 53-376) ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE Apparatus for continuously orienting filled cartons andforming viewing and ventilation slot portions in the lid for protectingthe carton contents, i.e. eggs or the like, which slot portionsstrengthen the carton and enhance the appearance thereof, and alsoclosing the carton and forming a complete package.

This invention relates generally to package forming apparatus and moreparticularly to a carton lid closing and/ or lid forming and closingmachine whereby portions of the carton lid have previously creased andscored portions designed to form viewing slots, and after the viewingslots are formed, the lid is lockingly engaged with and articlecontaining portion of the carton.

T he apparatus of the present invention is particularly adapted for usewith cartons of the character disclosed in detail in the application ofKenneth D. Bixler and William S. Peppler Ser. No. 407,988, filed Nov. 2,1964, now United States Letters Patent No. 3,255,947 issued June 14,1966, assigned to an assignee common to the present application.However, the apparatus could be used, with modifications, to closeconventional paper board cartons.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide novel apparatusin which filled egg cartons or the like are conveyed one after the otherthrough a carton lid forming and/or closing station, and are maintainedin oriented relationship thereat. The lid is then folded in overlyingrelationship with respect to the carton and contents while a lockingflap portion thereof is also folded into angular relationship withrespect to the general plane of the lid and is lockingly engaged withcooperating portions of the article containing portion of the carton.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel apparatuswhich includes novel stop means for orienting a carton along its path oftravel through the apparatus of the character mentioned above, and inwhich positioning of the carton initiates a cycle of operation of theapparatus for operating forming portions for the lid into theconfiguration for which the lid is designed and for operating theportions for locking the lid in relationship to the article containingportion of the carton.

Another object of the present invention is to provide, in apparatus ofthe character mentioned above, novel carton lid forming means comprisinga backing plate engageable at one side of an oriented carton lid andcooperating with a forming head including dies cooperating ininterdigitated relationship with the backing plate.

And still another object of the present invention is to provide inapparatus of the character mentioned above a novel lid closing platewhich includes a primary plate having mounted thereon a supplementalforming plate and in which the supplemental forming plate during aportion of the path of travel of the primary forming plate orients thelocking flap of a carton lid into a position for lockingly engagingcooperating portions of the article containing portion of the carton.

And yet another object of the present invention is to provide a novelcam control assembly in the apparatus of the character mentioned asabove, which controls the sequential operation of the various componentsof the lid 3,38,23 Patented Apr. 30, 1968 forming and closing assemblywhich is initiated by onerevolution control means of the apparatus.

These, together with other objects and advantages of the invention, willbecome apparent from a consideration of the following description whentaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings forming a partthereof, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of the novel apparatus with portions brokenaway for purposes of clarity;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of the apparatus,showing details of the stop means upstream of the carton lid forming andclosing station in the apparatus;

FIGS. 3-5 are fragmentary vertical sections, substantially diagrammatic,showing the sequence or steps of operation in which the backing plate ofthe carton lid forming means is oriented into engaging relationship withrespect to one side of a vertically extending lid of the carton beingformed and taken substantially on the plane of line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6a is a fragmentary vertical section taken substantially on theplane of line 6a-6a of FIG. 1, substantially diagrammatic, and showingthe manner in which the lid forming head cooperates with the backingplate during the cycle of operation of the apparatus;

FIG. 6b is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view illustrating in'detail the manner in which the backing plate cooperates with theforming head, and showing details of the orienting stop for the cartonto position it at the lid forming and closing stations;

FIG. 7 is a vertical section taken substantially on the plane of line7-7 of FIG. 1 and showing details of the control cam for the upstreamstop assembly at the entrance to the carton lid forming and closingstation;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially on the planeof line 8-8 of FIG. 1 illustrating details of a carton lid closing meansof the apparatus;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged, exploded perspective view showing details ofconstruction of the carton lid closing means and the manner in which thecomponents are assembled;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken substantially on theplane of line 1010 of FIG. 6b;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the apparatus, looking inwardly at theright hand end of FIG. 1 from the side opposite that shown in FIG 1; and

FIG. 12 is a vertical section taken substantially on the plane of line12-42 of FIG. 1 showing details of the one-revolution control means forthe operating shaft of the apparatus.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and first considering FIG. 1, thenovel carton lid forming and closing apparatus as indicated generally at10, generally comprises conveyor means 12 and a carton lid forming andclosing assembly indicated generally at 14. Located downstream of theconveyor is an orienting stop assembly indicated generally at 16 for thepurpose of defining upstream thereof the carton lid forming and closingstation as labeled on FIG. 1. In order to insure that only a singlecarton to be acted upon is disposed in the forming and closing station,the assembly 14 includes upstream of this station an abutment stopassembly indicated generally at 18.

The lid forming and closing assembly 14 includes lid forming meansindicated generally at 20 and includes lid closing means indicatedgenerally at 22. The stop assemblies 16 and 18 as well as the lidforming means 20 and lid closing means 22 are operated in propersequence by means of drive means indicated generally at 24 and operationthereof is controlled by means of a one-revolution clutch assemblyindicated generally at 26.

The one-revolution control or clutch means 26 will be operativelyconnected to a power source such as an electric motor 23 in a manner tosubsequently be described in detail. Although the power source isillustrated as being mounted on the apparatus of the invention, suitableequivalents may be provided for the purpose of operating the apparatusthrough a cycle of operation.

The conveyor 12 comprises an endless conveyor belt having an upper run32 defining a generally horizontal path of travel through the apparatusand the carton lid forming and closing station. Cartons filled with aproduct, i.e. eggs, for example, will be deposited in end-abuttingrelationship on the conveyor run 32 in any suitable manner, and aremaintained on the conveyor run by means of suitable guide rails or thelike, a portion of which are seen in FIG. 11 and indicated at 34. Thefilled cartons will be urged toward the guide rail 34 by a suitablespring urged biasing assembly 36 including a friction wheel 38 rollinglyengageable with what might be considered the forward wall of theproduct-receiving compartment of the carton.

The carton indicated generally at C includes a lower product receivingcompartment 40 having individual cells to receive the eggs which havebeen deposited therein prior to the carton being deposited on theconveyor run 32. The carton C has hingedly connected to the rear edge ata longitudinal fold line 42 (see FIG. 11) a planar lid 44 which includesthereon precut and prescored slot forming portions 46 which will formobservation slots as well as cushioning flaps for the eggs as clearlyseen in FIG. 6b. Hingedly connected to the lid 44- on a transverse foldor score line 48 is a lock flap 5% including bayonettype lock portions52 which will lockingly engage with horizontally disposed panel segments54 of the product receiving, cellular portion 40 of the carton C. Aspreviously mentioned, specific details of the types of cartonsmanipulated by an apparatus of this invention may be had from UnitedStates Letters Patent No. 3,255,947.

Cartons C, which have been previously filled with the product such aseggs, are conveyed in end-to-end abutting relationship on the conveyorrun 32, and the abutment assembly 18 functions to permit only one filledcarton at a time to be moved through the apparatus. Further, theorienting stop assembly 16 serves the function of orienting the filledcarton that is permitted to pass into the apparatus for subsequentmanpiulation by the lid forming means and lid closing means 20 and 22,respectively,

and also serves the function of initiating a cycle of operation of theapparatus.

The structural relationship of the parts will be described, beforedescribing the manner in which cartons are fed along the conveyor run32, and the manner in which the lid slots are formed and the lids aremanipulated and locked.

The carton lid forming and closing assembly 14 includes a verticalextending, substantially inverted U- shaped support frame 56 havingmounted on the upper portion 57 thereof the power source such as theelectrically energized motor 28. The motor 28 includes a laterallyprojecting power shaft 58 to which is secured a drive gear or sprocketover which is entrained an endless drive belt 60. The belt 60 constantlyrotates a driving portion of the one-revolution control assembly orclutch 26 which is generally conventional and which will not bedescribed in specific details. A power or drive shaft 62 is operativelyconnected to the one-revolution clutch and includes on the terminal endsthereof a flywheel 64, permitting the shaft 62 to be rotated manuallywhen initially adjusting the cooperating and subsequentially operatedcomponents of the apparatus. Without describing the one-revolutionclutch in detail, as seen in FIG. 12, an operating latch 66 is pivotallymounted on one of the parts thereof and a displaceable abutment lever 68is mounted on a support shaft 70 which is disposed in spaced parallelrelationship to the drive or operating shaft 62. The lever 68 isintegrally connected to a vertically extending lever '72 connected by asuitable linkage 74 to a solenoid control or force-transmittingmechanism 76 carried on the frame 56.

The solenoid controlled mechanism 76 is suitably connected to a powersource and as will subsequently be described in detail to a micro switchtype control 78, which will normally be disposed in intersectingrelationship to the path of travel of the carton lid edge indicated at79 (see FIG. 6b). The micro switch control 78 includes an operatorcomprising a lever 80 engageable by the edge '79 which is mounted on asuitable shaft 82 carried by a hearing 84 on the frame of the apparatus.The shaft 82 includes on its lower end a lever portion 86 engageablewith the micro switch 88 for activating or closing the same. When theswitch 88 is closed, a circuit to the mechanism 76 is closed, and thesolenoid control mechanism 76 is activated, resulting in inward movementof the control linkage 74 and movement of the abutment lever 80 out ofthe path of travel of the control lever 66 of the onerevolution clutch26. When this occurs, the shaft 62 will be rotated one revolution,whereafter the abutment 68 will once more be disposed in the positionshown in FIG. 12 to prevent continued revolution of the shaft 62 untilthe abutment edge 79 of the lid of the next preceding carton engages thecontrol lever 80.

As seen in FIGS. 1, 7 and 11, the shaft 62 has mounted on its upstreamend, exteriorly of the frame 56, a cam element 96 engaged at itsperipheral edge by a roller 92 journaled at the upper end of a lever 94intermediately pivoted at 96 on the frame 56. A tension spring 98 isterminally secured to the lever 94 below the pivot 96 and is anchored onthe frame to urge the lever 94 in a counterclockwise direction as viewedin FIGS. 7, 11 and 12, for example, to urge the roller 92 in engagementwith the periphery of the cam 90.

The support frame of the apparatus has mounted thereon a fixed stopplate 10% which includes an upper portion 162. extending into the pathof travel of the edge 79 of the lid 44 of the carton C and normallyrestrains the cartons from movement into the carton lid forming andclosing station. The fixed stop 100 includes a notched out portion 104and the lever 94 includes at its lower end a lateral projection 106which will be disposed at the rear side of the cellular lower portion 40of the carton. An upwardly angled fixed guide bar 108 extends verticallyfrom the fixed abutment plate 100 to a portion of the frame 56 for thepurpose of preventing the forward or leading edge 79 of the lid fromengaging the lever 94 or frame 56. As the cam 99, conveniently describedas a carton release cam, rotates through a cycle of revolution, thelever 94 will be biased about the pivot 6 clockwise wherein the lowerend, i.e. the abutment portion 106 thereof, engages the rear side of thecarton and moves the carton out of intersecting relationship withrespect to the fixed stop 102. When this occurs, the conveyor run 32will convey the carton, normally stopped by the fixed abutment plate182, into the carton lid forming and closing station for engagement bythe orienting stop assembly 16 to be presently described.

The support frame 56 has journaled thereon in parallel spacedrelationship with respect to the path of travel defined by the run 32 ofthe conveyor a support shaft 110 (see FIGS. 1, 6b, 9 and 10), forexample. Journalcd on the shaft 110 is a substantially triangularabutment element 112 having an abutment edge 114 engageable with theleading edge of the carton as seen in FIG. 6b. The abutment element 112includes an abutment shoulder 116 engageable by an abutment screw tosubsequently be described and comprises a bearing sleeve 118 journaledon the shaft 110 and includes a rearwardly projecting lever portion 120.The lever portion 126 is connected to a tension spring 122 anchored atits lower end to a bracket 124, accordingly urging the abutment edge 114counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 10.

Mounted downstream of the orienting stop assembly 16 on a bracket 126and intermediately pivoted at 128 is a lever or shoe 136 which has aportion 132 disposed immediately beneath the abutment element 112 forengagemeat behind the notch 121 thereof. The lever 130 includes an upperlateral flange 134 terminating in an upwardly angled end portion 136,and when the carton is locked up or closed, the leading end of thecarton will engage beneath the flange 134 as it is moved out of thecarton lidforming and closing station when the next preceding carton ismoved into the closing station.

The orienting stop assembly 116 is coordinated in its movement with thelid closing means 22, and the description of the operation of theorienting stop assembly and resetting of the same will not be describeduntil the cooperating structure of the lid closing means 22 has beendescribed.

Referring to the details of the lid closing means 22, this portion ofthe apparatus comprises a pair of C- shaped support elements 138 and141) (see FIG. 1) which include at the terminal ends of their lower legstransverse apertures 142 received on the shaft 118 and fixedly securedthereto by means of a lock screw 144. The element 138 includes on itsvertical leg an adjustable abutment screw 146 which will be disposedimmediately behind the abutment shoulder 116 of the orienting stopassembly 16 for normally positioning the abutment portion 114 of theelement 112 in the path of travel of the oncoming cartons. In thisregard, the abutment screw 146 determines the maximum extent ofcounterclockwise movement of the abutment element 112 in the mannerclearly seen in FIG. 10. Further, as will subsequently be described indetail, when the support element 138 moves from the solid line to thephantom position of FIG. 10, the abutment element 112 will movetherewith to the phantom line position shown in FIG. 10, i.e. out of thepath of travel of the oncoming cartons C. However, the vertical leg ofthe support element 138 includes a secondary abutment 148 which willmove into position to engage the upper edge of the oncoming carton lidsas the abutment elements 112 are moved out of the way, as justmentioned.

When the abutment element 112 moves downwardly or clockwise to thephantom line position shown in FIG. 10, notch portion 21 thereof willengage behind the lever portion 132 of lever 130 which will also bepivoted to the phantom line position shown in FIG. 1, for example. Whenthis occurs, the abutment element 112 is maintained out of the path oftravel of oncoming cartons. However, the secondary abutment 143 willengage the leading edge of the oncoming cartons and continue to maintainthe cartons in the closing station. After a carton has been properlyclosed, due to the cycle of operation of the shaft 62 and the meansprovided thereon for this purpose, as the leading end of the cartonmoves beneath the flange 134 integral with the lever 139, the portion136 thereof will be pivoted upwardly causing the lever portion 132thereof to move downwardly below the notch 121, which will result in thetension spring 122 urging the abutment element 112 back to the solidline position shown in FIG. for the purpose of orienting the nextoncoming carton to be operated on at the forming and closing station ofthe apparatus.

The shaft 111: has fixedly secured thereto, by means of a lock screw149, a sleeve portion 151 of an operating lever 152. The operating lever152 is pivotally connected by means of a stub shaft element 154 to anactuating link 156. The link 156 is pivotally connected by a pair oflinks 158 and 160, the latter of which is pivotally connected at 162(see FIG. 8) to a lever 164 having journaled thereon an intermediatelydisposed cam follower element 166 received within a suitably designedcam track 168 on a control cam 170 fixedly connected to the drive shaft162. The support shaft 70 has journaled thereon the lever 164 whichincludes a bearing sleeve portion 165 most clearly seen in FIG. 1.

Fixedly secured to the support frame 56, inwardly of the vertical legthereof, is a cam plate 167 which includes an upwardly angled cam slot169. The support elements 138, 140 have journaled in the upper armsthereof a terminal stub shaft 171 of a support bar 172. Stub shaft 171(only one being shown, see FIG. 9) is retained thereon by a sleeve 174and lock screw 176, the sleeve 174 being integral with a substantiallyL-shaped lever 178. The lever 178 includes at the lower corner thereof asupport shaft 180 upon which is journaled a cam follower element 182which will be received in the slot 167 when the apparatus is assembled.Included on the lower leg 13 of the lever 178 is an arcuate slot 186which receives therethrough a screw element 188 having mounted thereon,on the inner surface of the vertical leg of the support 138, a frictionincreasing assembly indicated at 191).

The support bar 172 has secured to the upper edge thereof a lock flapforming plate 192, which will pivot with the bar 172 in a manner tosubsequently be described. Considering FIG. 8, for example, during acycle of operation of the shaft 62, due to the engagement by the leadingedge of a carton and movement of the micro switch control lever 80, etc.during rotation of the cam 170, the shaft will be pivoted clockwise asviewed in FIG. 8. The supports 138 and 140, which are fixed to the shaft110, will be pivoted from the leftmost position shown in FIG. 8 to theposition shown at 138 and therebeyond, resulting in the lid of thecarton indicated at 44, being moved into overlying relationship withrespect to the cellular article receiving portion 41 During the earlypart of the pivotal movement of the supports 138 and 140, the angularcam slot 169 of the cam plate 167 which is engaged by the roller 182,causes the layer 178 to move from the position indicated at 178 to thatshown by the solid line position at the left hand portion of FIG. 8,accordingly causing the lock flap 156 to be disposed at substantiallyright angles to the lid 44 of the carton. After the supports 138 andhave moved away from the cam plate 166, i.e. the follower 182 moves outof the cam slot 168, the friction means 1% associated with the screw181) causes the lever 178 to maintain the solid line position shown inPEG. 8. The outwardly turned lip 194 of the plate 192, in conjunctionwith the bar 172, causes the lock flap 5% of the carton to be folded andto be lockingly engaged with the panel portions 54 of the articlereceiving portion of the carton portion lt) as they continue beyond thelowermost position shown in FIG. 8, and means will be provided forreorienting the plate 192 to its normal position in opposition to thefriction means 1%, this being subsequently described in detail.

The structure which has been described will be effective for closing thelids of conventional cartons which do not utilize observation orcushioning slots of the character illustrated in the presentapplication.

The carton lid forming means, indicated generally at 20, comprises abacking plate 196 having a plurality of downwardly opening slot portions198 (see FIG. 6b) flanked by inwardly extending abutment finger portions266. The abutment finger portions will engage the inner surface of thecarton lid adjacent the slots being formed, i.e. engaging along thescore lines 202 formed in the lid 44 (see FIG. 2, for example).Connected to the backing plate are a pair of support arms 2134 which arefixed at their upper ends to a sleeve 206 journaled by the support shaft70 (see FIG. 1). The sleeve 2136 is connected by an angular leverportion 288 to a cam follower or roller 210 to a cam groove 212 formedon the inner surface of a control cam 214 fixedly connected to the driveshaft 62. The backing plate 196 has mounted on the upper edge thereof ananti friction roller 216, the function of which is to be presentlydescribed.

Before describing the function of the backing plate for the purpose offorming the viewing and cushioning slots in the carton lid, it will beobserved that the carton lock flap bending plate 192 has extendinglaterally therefrom an angular abutment tongue 218. Considering FIG. 8,as the support arms 138 and 141) move toward the phantom line positionshown in FIG. 8, the abutmenet plate 218 will engage the roller 216 onthe backing plate, and will cause the plate 192 to move back to thenormal position shown at the extreme left of FIG. 8, ie overcoming thefriction imposed by assembly 190.

The position of the backing plate 196 shown in FIG. 8 or FIG. 3, forexample, is the so-called normal position to which the backing platemoves after the viewing and cushioning slots have been formed.

Freely pivoted or journaled on the shaft 110 is a forming head 220 whichincludes a plurality of inwardly extending forming dies 222 which willbe received in interdigitated relationship between the fingers 260 ofthe backing plate 198. After the fingers 200 have moved between the foldlines 262 of the respective slots in the carton lid 44 (see FIG. 6b),the forming die 220 is pivoted into cooperating relationship. Theforming die 220 has projecting rearwardly therefrom a lever portion 224(see FIG. 11) pivotally connected at 226 to a vertically extending link228 pivotally connected at 239 to a lever 231 which is journaled at oneend on a sleeve 232 mounted on the support shaft 70. The lever 231 hasjournaled thereon a roller element 234 engaged in a cam groove 236formed on the inner surface of a cam 238 fixed to the drive shaft 62.

Considering FIGS. 36a, after the carton C has moved along into thecarton lid forming and closing station, prior to the carton being closedin the manner previously described, the backing plate 196 and fingers200 thereof move from the position shown in FIG. 3 to that of FIG. 4,wherein the fingers 200 will engage the inner surface of the lid inflanking relationship with respect to the score or fold lines 202 of thelid. Next, the forming head 220 and the forming dies 222 thereof willmove from the position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 to that of FIG. 6a, inwhich these forming dies will be in interdigitated relationship withrespect to the fingers 200 and the arcuate movement thereof will be ofsuch a character to form the inwardly extending flaps or flanges on thecarton lid as clearly shown in FIG. 6b which is comparable to thepositioning of the parts shown in FIG. 6a.

Brief rsum of the operation of the apparatus Cartons which have beenloaded with the product eggs, for example in the exemplary embodiment,are conveyed in end-to-end relationship along the run 32 of theconveyor. After the first carton has been disposed in the carton lidforming and closing station and the micro switch 88 has been closed, theapparatus will function automatically. The closing of the micro switch88 results in activation of the one revolution clutch 26, causing thecycle of operation of the drive shaft 62. The backing plate and fingers200 thereof will move into engagement with the inner surface of a cartonlid 44 and thereafter the forming head 220 and dies 222 will movethrough the slots of the lid and orient them in their final form bymoving in interdigi-t-ated relationship between the fingers 200 of thebacking plate. After this has been accomplished, the carton closingmeans comprising bar 172 and plate 192 come into operation.

The control cam 170 causes pivotal movement of the supports 138 and 140about the shaft 110, and the cam track 169 causes the lid folding plate192 to fold the lock flap of the carton into substantially right angularrelationship with respect to the lid 44. Continued pivotal movement ofthe bar 172 and plate 192, as illustrated in FIG. 8, will result in thecarton lid being locked with respect to the article receiving portion40.

As the lid is locked into engagement with the article receiving portion40, the forming or folding plate 192 is reoriented to its normalposition through the expedient of the abutment tongue 218 and roller 216on the backing plate, and the support arm 138 functions to continue tohold a carton at the forming and closing station by means of thesecondary abutment element 148 while it displaces the abutment element114 into latched or notched relationship with respect to the leverportion 132 of the lever 130.

As the support 138 moves back to its normal position, the abutment stopassembly 118 functions through the lever 94 and abutment portion 106thereof urges the carton away from the fixed abutment stop 102 so thatit can be conveyed into the forming and closing station. At the sametime the orienting stop assembly 116 will no longer restrain car-tonsfrom moving out of the forming and closing station and the leading endof the cartons engage the portion 136 of the flange 134 to cause thelever portion 132 to pivot downwardly and out of the path of upwardmovement of the abutment 114 to accordingly restrain the next oncomingcarton at the forming and closing station.

It will be noted that the exemplary embodiment of the invention, asdisclosed by way of example, includes means for timing movement ofcar-tons into the apparatus, means to insure that only one carton at atime enters into a forming station, means are provided to sense ordetect when a carton has reached a properly oriented position wherebythe lid will be formed thereat, and a single-cycle drive means actuatesthe various functioning components. Although the exemplary andillustrative embodiment of the invention is adapted to accept a randomsupply of cartons conveyed on a relatively smooth belt conveyor, andincludes automatically-operating indexing and positioning means, withrespect to the broad concept, as hereinafter claimed, applicant intendsthat the full range of equivalents of similarly functioning componentsbe applicable with respect to the claims. For example, anintermittently-driven, reciprocating flighted conveyor together withautomatic positioning of a carton in a conveyor pocket could be utilizedin apparatus of the character heretofore disclosed, and the cartonscould be oriented during a dwell period of the conveyor. Further, forexample, the apparatus could cycle continuously to eliminate, forexample, a single-cycle clutch etc.

Although this apparatus is particularly adapted for forming cushioningand viewing slots in the lid of a carton, as well as closing the same,it also is susceptible for use in closing lids of conventional eggcartons and the like which do not include such viewing slots.

It would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes maybe made without departing from the scope of the invention and thereforethe invention is not limited to what is shown in the drawings anddescribed in the specification but only as indicated in the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a carton lid forming and closing apparatus comprising, means fororienting a carton in a predetermined position; lid forming meansdisplaceably supported above said predetermined position and includingcooperating portions abuttingly engageable on opposite sides of saidpredetermined position in a substantially vertical plane for formingviewing and cushioning slots in a carton lid; carton lid closing meansdisplaceably mounted for movement into overlying relation with respectto said predetermined position for folding a lock flap in angularrelation to the carton lid and lockingly engaging the lock flap with thecarton; and power means operatively connected to said lid forming meansand lid closing means for actuating the same.

2. A carton lid forming and closing apparatus comprising, incombination, conveyor means for conveying a carton along a path oftravel; lid forming means displaceably supported above said path oftravel and including cooperating portions abuttingly engaging fromopposite sides of said path of travel in a substantially vertical planefor forming view and cushioning slots in a carton lid; carton lidclosing means displaceably mounted for movement into overlying relationwith respect to said path of travel for folding a lock flap in angularrelation to the carton lid and lockingly engaging the lock flap with thecarton; and power means operatively connected to said lid forming meansand lid closing means for actuating the same.

3. A carton lid forming and closing apparatus comprising, incombination, conveyor means for conveying a carton along a path oftravel; means operatively associated with said conveyor for orienting acarton at a lid forming and closing station on said machine; lid formingmeans displaceably supported above said path of travel of said conveyorand including cooperating portions abuttingly engaging from oppositesides of said path of travel in a substantially vertical plane forforming view and cushioning slots in a carton lid; carton lid closingmeans displaceably mounted for movement into overlying relation withrespect to said path of travel for folding a lock fiap in angularrelation to the carton lid and lockingly engaging the lock flap with thecarton; and power means operatively connected to said lid forming meansand lid closing means for actuating the same.

4. The structure as claimed in claim 1 in which said lid forming meanscomprises a backing plate having a plurality of finger portions forengaging one side of planar lid between portions to be formed with slotsthere through, said lid forming means comprising a forming headincluding a plurality of forming dies, spaced therealong and disposed ininterdigitated relation with said backing plate finger portions forengaging therebetween when the slots of a carton lid are produced.

5. The structure as claimed in claim 4 in which said backing plate anddie head are suspended on an axis of rotation disposed above saidhorizontal path of travel, said power means comprising control cam andforce transmitting linkages operatively connected to aid backing plateand die head.

6. The structure as claimed in claim 3 in which said means operativelyassociated with said conveyor includes an abutment stop assemblydisposed upstream of said lid forming and closing station and includes amechanical abutment projectable into intersecting relation with respectto said path of travel of said conveyor, and fixed abutment means fornormally preventing cartons being conveyed into said lid forming andclosing station until the preceding carton lid has been formed andclosed.

7. The structure as claimed in claim 3 in which said means operativelyassociated with said conveyor means includes an orienting stop assemblydisposed downstream of said path of travel, said stop assembly includinga first pivotal abutment mounted on an axis of rotation spaced parallelfrom and positionable into aid path of travel for engaging the leadingend of a carton and orienting the carton in relation to the forming andclosing station, and a second pivotal abutment mounted on an axis ofrotation downstream of said horizontal path of travel and including alever portion projecting into intersecting relation to the pivotal pathof said first pivotal abutment for movement thereby, said second pivotalabutment including an abutment shoe integral with said lever portion andnormally positioned in the path of travel of said cartons, said shoeincluding a downstream plate portion for engagement by a closed cartonfor permitting said pivotal abutment into a carton stopping positionwhen the plate portion and lever portion are engaged by a filled cartonmoved along said path of travel.

8. The structure as claimed in claim 7 in which said means operativelyassociated with said conveyor means includes an abutment stop assemblydisposed upstream of said lid forming and closing station and includes amechanical abutment projectable into intersecting relation with respectto said path of travel of said conveyor, and fixed abutment means fornormally preventing cartons from being conveyed into said lid formingand closing station until the preceding carton lid has been formed andclosed.

9. The structure as claimed in claim 1 in which carton lid closing meanscomprises a primary forming plate pivoted on an axis spaced from andparallel to the path of travel, said primary forming plate including asupplemental forming plate pivota-lly mounted on the upper edge thereoffor fol-ding the lid lock flap in angular relation to the general planeof the lid, and control means disposed adjacent the pivotal path of saidprimary forming plate and engaged with said supplemental forming platefor pivoting said supplemental forming plate during pivotal movement ofsaid primary forming plate.

10. The structure as claimed in claim 2 in which said power meanscomprises a power shaft overlying said path of travel, control camsfixed to said drive shaft, lid forming means and lid closing means eachbeing operatively and independently connected to a respective one ofsaid control cams.

1'1. The structure as claimed in claim 10, including a one revolutioncontrol assembly connected to said drive shaft for providing a cycle ofrotation for said drive shaft, and control means normally positioned inthe path of travel of a carton lid for engagement thereby, and aone-revolution control assembly operatively connected to said controlmeans for initiating a cycle of rotation when engaged by the leading endof a carton lid.

12. A carton closing machine comprising, in combination, conveyor meansfor conveying a carton along a path of travel, stop means including aportion displaceably supported for movement into intersectingrelationship with the path of travel for engaging and orienting a cartonat a lid closing station on said machine, carton lid closing meansdisplaceably mounted for movement into overlying relation with respectto said path of travel for folding a lock flap in angular relation tothe carton lid and lockingly engaging the lock flap with the carton, andpower means operatively connected to said stop means and lid closingmeans, and including means for actuating the same in a cycle ofoperation, said stop means including an orienting stop assembly disposeddownstream of said path of travel, said stop assembly including a firstpivotal abutment mounted on an axis of rotation spaced parallel from andpositionable into said path of travel for engaging the leading end of acarton and orienting the carton in relation to the closing station, anda second pivotal abutment mounted on an axis of rotation downstream ofsaid horizontal path of travel and including a lever portion projectinginto said intersecting relation to the pivotal path of said firstpivotal abutment for movement thereby, said second pivotal abutmentincluding an abutment shoe integral with said lever portion and normallypositioned in the path of travel of said cartons, said shoe including aportion engageable by a closed carton for causing said lever to move outof the path of travel of said pivotal abutment to permit it to return toa carton stopping position when the lever portion is pivoted due tomovement of a filled carton.

13. The structure as claimed in claim 2 in which said lid forming andlid closing means include a substantially common support frame overlyingsaid path of travel of said conveyor means at a single carton lid andforming station.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,665,532 1/1954 Wood 53-3762,734,324 2/ 1956 Chandler.

2,782,577 2/1957 Beall.

2,803,934 8/1957 Lubersky 53-376 TRAVIS S. MCGEHEE, Primary Examiner.

